Recently, Yvonne Ridley wrote an article about some Islamic Relief concert in England featuring Sami Yusuf and Mecca2Medina. She called Mecca2Medina a boy band, which is absolutely ridiculous. Mecca2Medina is a rap group from the UK with Caribbean origins. Who does she think she is? Here is a response to her offensive article:
Mecca2Medina - Not a Boy Band (mp3)
Update: Ismael from Mecca2Medina comments on my blog below here.
94 Responses for "Mecca2Medina responds to Yvonne Ridley"
Did you read Yvonne’s article?
Here is the quote: “Islamic boy bands like 786 and Mecca 2 Medina are also the subject of the sort of female adulation you expect to see on American Pop Idol or the X-Factor.”
The article was talking about how badly the fans behaved, maybe she shouldn’t have used the words “boy bands” but I don’t think she was trying to attack M2M.
As salam aleikum!
Shaytaan up 2 his tricks again. Distancing brothers and sisters. Let’s not ridicule any brothers or sisters here!
Anywayz lets make sure we hear both sides of the story.
Here’s Yvonne Ridley’s article: http://maniacmuslim.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=7825
Assalamu alaikum
I actually agree with sister Yvonne. If you want to do an Islamic band, then fair enough. But there should be restrictions, more restrictions than simply an Islamic theme.
I know a brother who is in the band BlackStone who was invited to a concert with other Islamic rap artists. It was a concert for Muslims and it was MIXED. The brothers and sister were standing all mixed together. Blackston refused to sing and they stepped out of the whole thing.
Those Islamic bands are seriously forgetting their restriction and going to far. I’m with sister Yvonne on this all the way. Sami Yousef and his “god praise the queen” attitude is even more disgusting than anything else I saw out there.
Allah knows best.
Assalamu alaikum
That song is pretty hot. LOL I love that Reggae part in the middle. I wasn’t paying to much attention in the beginning and when he said “glorify Allah” I heard Fiya (as in Fire). Its too early in the morning …
Oh yea, that track has no music, just words, so no one can say its Haraam. Also, I went to thier website and saw some pictures. One picture the guy in it looks like Sizzla (or Capleton … I forget who is who).
LOL, amusing.
Maybe the ‘boy’ term offended the brothers.
It is not safe to say ‘music’ is halaal..
To most music = something with instruments.
Anyway miskeen, could have just written something back, rather than ‘writing a song about it’
Label the track ‘furb’.
lol I think she really meant “brother band.”
well if they don’t like the term “boy band” they could always go with “girl band”.
I think the brother are just going to exacerbate the situation and cause more fitnah by producing a rap to rebut sister Yvonne’s comments. This is not east coast west 2pac and biggie beef here! We’re muslims for heavens’ sake, ACT LIKE IT! Secondly the issue with music not being haram, if we’re talking instruments then Rasoolullah himself states:
Volume 7, Book 69, Number 494v:
Narrated Abu ‘Amir or Abu Malik Al-Ash’ari:
that he heard the Prophet saying, “From among my followers there will be some people who will consider illegal sexual intercourse, the wearing of silk, the drinking of alcoholic drinks and the use of musical instruments, as lawful. And there will be some people who will stay near the side of a mountain and in the evening their shepherd will come to them with their sheep and ask them for something, but they will say to him, ‘Return to us tomorrow.’ Allah will destroy them during the night and will let the mountain fall on them, and He will transform the rest of them into monkeys and pigs and they will remain so till the Day of Resurrection.”
Aside from that, it’s as one of the brothers earlier quoted sister Yvonne as saying in the article “Islamic boy bands like 786 and Mecca 2 Medina are also the subject of the sort of female adulation you expect to see on American Pop Idol or the X-Factor.†This is only refering to the type of attention the brothers are attracting and the fact that it is fitnah. The brothers need to check their actions and realise their responsibility in this as they will answer before Allah on qiyaamah as regards to the sins of others that they were a cause of.
Osama
Wasalaam
The reply was nice.
i read the article and i must say though sometimes the wording yvonne uses is too harsh, she makes a point. personally, i don’t think they should be that defensive about being termed a boy band.. i don’t think she meant it offensively and even if she did, why get so defensive about it? do something more productive. what i got from it is something i’ve realized about nasheeds.. a lot of the time we have the same reaction to them as music. we know every single word, sing to it, sometimes it makes people dance, it evokes basically the same response.and Mecca to Medina says that the Prophet (SAW) had a poet.. a poet is different from a contemporary musician. yes, i understand that lyrics are basically poetry, but come on.. at least understand the woman’s point! and she is commenting on the fact that the crowd’s are unruly and mixed and it’s sad.. it truly is.. men aren’t supposed to hear women singing and they’re not supposed to dance so in a public venue, it’s kind of an odd predicament..
oh man, that was more of a response then this deserved.. sorry for the incoherence.::sigh::
I agree sister Yvonnes words were a bit harsh BUT
The crowd did act in a very disgusting way when Sami was performing, (gives the expression la haya fi deen a whole new meaning) and as noone told them to behave otherwise its an implicit approval.
The other band there was Native Deen, not mEcca2Medina
Anyway lets keep the deen clean and not muddy the waters, many of us listen to music but I would rather that muhajiba sisters shake it to 50cent (not that im promoting it) than to salawat on the prophet, why? because it belittles the name of Allah and rasoolullah if it just just becomes any other line in any other pop song
Islamo-pop/nasheed artists can’t just keep claiming that this is the attitude of fanatics and wahabis who don’t want muslims to lighten up, “islamic” art, should be performed in islamic settings with islamic adab, otherwise the word islamic just becomes another sales pitch….
Check the article in Q-news on the topic
Subhnallah, they couldnt use Quran and Sunnah to back up there point?? sad… The sis made a good point which Islamic is correct. May Allaah forgive us and guide us
they did use the sunnah, the talked about the sahabah who use to “rap” for the prophet (peace be upon him)
did you notice the defense didn’t rebut (is that a word?) the argument of being a boy band.. being a muslim boy band doesn’t mean that you don’t praise Allah or that you don’t speak the truth. if i call 786 Boyz a Muslim boy band that doesn’t mean they’re not praising Allah in their songs.. idk it was weird..
Please show me any where Sahabas RA rapped…. you should be careful saying things that are not true…
Look what”RAP” and you are linking that with the like’s of Abu Bakr ra….:S
MR: Sahabas RAPPED?? subhanallah. Brother, rap includes poetry but it is NOT poetry. most music generally have poetry, that doesn’t make them all rappers. Rap is fast talking in ryhmes along a repetitive beat (the beat doesn’t have to be of any musical instrument, it could simply be the repetitve change of tone of the vocalist like that in the “response” mecca2medinah made to sister Yvonne). Oh and add to that a horrendously silly style like that in the photo you posted.
I do apologise if I seem too hard, but I absolutly have not a shred of respect for rap in general.
May Allah guide us and forgive us all.
Wassalam
dont diss yvonne she made a gud point…sisters were losin it ova sami yusuf…
ı just listened the answer!
M2M!! plz do not stop answering and rapping bros! Continue being a voice of muslims! Keep up the good work bros!
All praises to Allah!
Salam alaikum!
Osman Gazali
but we have to keep in mind that lots of sisters are doing what yvonne says.they are going crazy for sami. and he doesnt say anything on this on scenes. he can tell them that what they do is not ok. maybe he s enjoying this??!
what yvonna did is looking @ sami and those gals and making a general comment about the ummah. who is sami? just a boy singing nasheeds. u cant make decisions by sami…
Rap is rhyming. Poetry is rhyming. Same thing. They all rhyme. Read the Quran. There is a CLEAR rhyming theme. It’s not that hard to see. A 2-year-old can see that.
You guys need to understand what “rap” is. Rap is simple speaking peotry. Don’t define rap by un-Islamic rap artits. Define rap, which includes the wider scope. The general defintion of rap which is globally used simply as a rhyme.
Yes the sahabas “rapped”. The Qur’an raps. It has a divine unique style.
The Arabs use to have peotry battles or “freestyle battles” where they would see who can recite a better poem on the spot or “spit a better rhyme”. It is clearly in the history of the culture of that time of the Arabs.
May Allah (swt) allow us to be educated about the Qur’an, the Sunnah and the history of our deen. Ameen!
Just a side note, though the Qur’an does have its own rhyming scheme at time, it can’t be called rap or poetry or anything that is comparable with human speech because it is simply way above all those levels. He is right htough, the Arabs (and the poets amongst the Sahabah) did have “musha’ara” which would be who could compose a poem better than the other on the spot, ie freestyling, totally on the spot, having to respond to their opponent. But the beauty of the Qur’an, and its real miracle, is when it came all the ‘Arabs were stunned, they couldn’t replicate its style, they understood what it was saying, no matter what kind of ‘arab you were, it had rhyming and a music of its own, but didn’t follow whatsoever all their styles of poetry, and I repat, they couldn’t replicate it whatsover. We should all spend getting more and more acquainted with the Speech of Allah. Ameen
And for examples of Poetry, Hasan bin Thabit and Ka’b bin Zuhayr were both well known Sahabah who wrote poetry supporting Islam and praising the Prophet (ص), Hasan bin Thabit had the title of “The poet of the Prophet (ص)”. And it is a well known hadith, that verily his words hurt more than the physical wounds we inflict on them, this was in reference for telling Hasan bin Thabit (ÙÙŒradh) to compose poetry mocking the Mushrikoon before battle. It would be ignorance to say that the Sahabah didn’t say poetry or they never had it against others, but they wouldn’t do it against each other, instead they would do it against those who fought Islam.
JazakumAllah khair Yaser!
AstagfirAllah, the Word of Allah should not be compared to man made things like poetry or rap. May Allah forgive me for this mistake.
Yasser, is that an ijmaa (that you’re not allowed to say that there is poetry in the Quran)? Because as far as my understanding, poetry is as much man made as the Arabic language is. It’s just a form of speech. I don’t understand why it would be haram to say that the Quran has poetry and not haram to say that the Quran is an Arabic book.
Jazak Allah khair
As far as I know, the scholars of Nahw, Sarf and Lughah have always classified Arabic language into three categories, Kalam ul ‘Arab, ÙÙAsh’aar and Qur’an (speech of the Arabs, Poetry, Qur’an). The scholars who have written on the subject of ‘Ijaz ul Qur’an always have a huge amount on how the Qur’an far surpasses the poetry and speech of the ‘Arabs. I dont know what the legal status is of saying there is poetry, but all of our ‘ulema have gone through great lengths showing how it isn’t poetry, not to mention us nowadays are totally ignorant of the miracle that stunned the Jahili Arabs, the language of the Qur’an. This was the original miracle and we can only appreciate it when we learn the language of the ‘Arabs. And in regard to language being man-made, there is a debate amongst the scholars whether language is from Allah(swt) directly (Adam was taught the names…) or if it just came about(ie manmade). An interesting note to add that modern linguistics says that the human brain is built for language, ie the wiring is prebuilt in the brain for sole purpose of language. And Allah Knows better. مع السلامة
The qur’an says about itself “And it is not the word of a poet; little is it that you believe” (al-Haqqah:41). If we say the qur’an is poetry then we would have to say that Allah is a poet. Which is contradicted by this ayah
The brother that made this comment ‘I know a brother who is in the band BlackStone who was invited to a concert with other Islamic rap artists. It was a concert for Muslims and it was MIXED. The brothers and sister were standing all mixed together. Blackston refused to sing and they stepped out of the whole thing.’
IS TALKING RUBBISH BECAUSE I have performed with Wissam & dpz on quite a few occassions. When we have performed there have been seperate seatings. Wissam and DPZ are very good brothers of mine and I refuse to read rubbish like this. Ismael of Mecca2Medina
for the record We love and respect sister Yvonne, before this article we have spoken to each other on many occasions I felt what we had to make people know that we are not a boyband and people can’t go around disrespecting us like that and thinking they can get away with it (we are taught in Islam to have self respect). We have spoken to Yvonne since and we should be on her show on the 16th of June INSH’LLA
akh Ismael:
Walyd (one of the members of Blackstone) himself said this. He didn’t say if Mecca2Medina were there as well. As far as I was told, that particular “Islamic” concert Blackstone was invited to was mixed and there were several other groups present and stayed even though Blackstone left.
I don’t know DPZ but I do know Wissam. Why don’t you give him a ring and ask?
wassalam
Salaam Alaikum…
We have to remember as muslims that we have a common duty to each other. We have to aware each other from haraam things like when you sing to a concert and muslim sisters are going crazy like ducks! You have to stay up and show that you dont accept that kinds of things even though you are a singer and gets money for your show.
On the other side of this world we all as muslim will be asked for what we did to tell the true principles of our roles inshaAllah.
So Im agree with sister Yvonne.
This is a reality; If you like a speech you cant accept it and follow it, but if you dont like a speech you can turn your back and ignore it. No one force you to accept anything.
Wa Salaam
Yvonne is missing the big picture. She wrote an article becuase sisters went crazy over Sami Yusuf. Many Muslims worlwide protestd the Danish cartoon speech, but when in a MUSLIM country, a MUSLIM judge orders MUSLIM men to RAPE A MUSLIM WOMAN as a punishment, where are the protets? Where are the articles condemning this? Why isn’t the ummah mad at that? How come the 5 men weren’t beaten, attacked, or threatened?
Yvonne Ridley and rest of the ummah need to wake up and look at the bigger issues here!
Salam,
Maybe when Sister Yvonne used the word “Boy band”, she implied “men who are not fighting.” I got that from knowing her background a little on how she converted (i.e., she was around real men and not boys).
Men who “sit back” and don’t move forward are nothing but boys. ‘Ali ibn abi Talib was considered a man and ‘Abdullah bin Ubayy was considered a boy.
So yes, they are just a bunch of children as well as the majority of this Ummah since Qital is fard al ‘ayn today. The real men don’t sit back but run forward.
Samir
99% of the Ummah are not real men anymore.
mujahideen ryder isnt a real man, lol
but seriously - wrong is wrong, no matter how small or large. Just because something worse is going on in Pakistan or somewhere else in the world that doesnt mean “smaller” problems at home shouldnt be addressed.
Sister Yyvonne addressed a local issue, which is commendable. However, the problem is that these immature young girls dont know how to behave at these concerts. However, I vehemently disagree with her criticism towards brother Sami Yusuf. Maybe instead we should be focusing our efforts on encouraging our sisters and daughters to NOT spend all their time listening and revering NSync and Boyzone and watching American idol.
And Allah (swt) knows best.
Here read this from Islam-Online:
There is nothing called Islamic and un-Islamic instruments; instruments are tools whose rulings is based on the way they are used for. This is a juristic rule that tools are judged according to the purpose they are used for. The negative attitude towards musical instruments in the old classical Islamic jurisprudence was mainly a reaction for deviant practices of people rather than a reflection of juristic texts.
Though the view of the majority of scholars is to forbid all musical instruments except duff, this view is based on weak arguments that do not stand solid in the juristic perspective.
1. Scholars tried to derive the ruling of prohibition from some verses of the Qur’an but while doing so they interpreted the verses in a way that is far from the direct and obvious meaning.
2. Ahadiths quoted in this regard are either unauthentic, not decisive to the effect prohibition, or opposed by stronger and more solid evidences from the Sunnah.
3. Some scholars, past and present, have verified the subject and pointed out the weakness of the argument stating that all musical instruments are forbidden. Some of these scholars are Ibn Hazm and Ash-Shawkani in the past, and Sheikh Al-Qaradawi and Al-Ghazali in the present.
As for Sami Yusuf, he followed a legitimate school of thought that stand on solid foundation. He used musical instruments to serve the cause of Islam and in my view and others he has done a good job in this filed. Attacking Sami Yusuf is, therefore, wrong from both the jurisprudential way as the juristic rule states that “a controversial matter is not to be condemned as wrongâ€. Any work that a person achieves based on a fatwa with solid evidences and issued by reliable scholars is not to be opposed even though we tend to subscribe to a different school of thought. We need to understand this juristic rule very well so as to allow diversity of opinions and pluralism in the madhahabs.
Those who attack Sami Yusuf are unfortunately ignoring the huge impact that un-Islamic deviant arts on especially on youth and the pressing need for alternatives. We live in a time that art has become more effective than the sword and the use of force. You can just imagine the huge impact that the recently published novel Da Vinci Code is leaving on the Christian faith and culture.
The good efforts done by Sami Yusuf in creating an alternative and using the musical instruments and video clips that were ever dedicated for indecency, must be appreciated and looked at positively.
sorry, that obviously didnt work. i meant to quote:
“its for the poor and oppressed we speak/
thats why we dont get invited to Islamic Relief”
whats that about?
I don’t know why Mecca2Medina said that. What I assume is that they weren’t invited to the relief concert, because of their lyrics talking about poor people.
Assalaamu Alaikum Brothers and Sisters
This has been a very interesting debate. Why don’t you come along to the event below and listen to Muslim brothers and sisters singing the praises of Allah. Alhamdulillah!!!
Dawa Media, Black Seed, Five Pillars Charity & Timeless Media are pleased to present:
Friday 26th May 2006
at
POSK POLISH CENTRE
238 - 246 KING STREET LONDON W6
Nearest Tube Ravenscourt Park
‘Remembering Malcolm X’ A Part of The Return of the Poets tour 2006 A concert of some of the top Nasheed and Hip Hop artists from USA and UK
call 07956381455 http://www.myspace.com/mecca2medina
http://www.mecca2medina.com http://www.dawa-media.com http://www.poeticpilgrimage.co.uk http://www.missundastood.com http://www.freewebs.com/pearlsofislam
In reference to what brother Haseeb Ahmed said, can you provide some references for contemporary and classical scholars who have demonstrated the weaknesses in arguments revolving around music and instruments? Jazakallah Khair…WS
“So yes, they are just a bunch of children as well as the majority of this Ummah since Qital is fard al ‘ayn today. The real men don’t sit back but run forward.
Samir ”
Assalamaualaykum brother; where did you pull this from. Qitaal is not a fardh ‘ayn and never has been. It is a fardh kifayah and is fulfilled by those whose lands are being attacked. Thus, for the Chechens, it is fardh ‘ayn to repel those who besiege them, but this is certainly not the duty of all Muslims. Please don’t make such blanket statements that don’t have backing, particularly when speaking regarding an issue as serious as qitaal.
Dear Omar,
My statement was not a blanket statement. It is fard al ‘ayn because the Muslims in Afghanistan, Chechnya etc. are not able to repel the enemies out of their lands. Every faqih agrees that when a Muslim Land is attacked and those Muslims within its vicinity cannot repel the enemies, then the neighboring Muslim Countries must help (fard al ‘ayn). This process continues until it is fard al ‘ayn on the entire world. At this point, we see that our brothers and sisters have not been able to repel the enemies.
Read up on Shaykh ‘Abdullah Yusuf ‘Azzam’s book, “Defence of Muslim Lands” and Shaykh Ibn Nuhaas’ “Mashari al Ashwaq ila Masari al Ushaaq.” Without a doubt it is fard al ‘ayn to go out today. But we are too afraid to do it because of our disease of ‘wahn’ (love for money, hatred for death) that Rasoolullah (s) prophesized. So it is expected to hear excuses upon excuses for not going out.
Samir
Salam brothers and sisters,
Sister Yvonne is absolutely right. Anyone who has seen a live ‘Nasheed Concert’ in person or on television would witness the screams of our sisters after their performances, and, yet, these ‘nasheed’ singers say nothing to control the crowd or point out that this is haraam.
Wassalam.
Assalaam Alaykum
I LOVE that rap, probabily heard it more than 10 times now!!
I want to listen to more Mecca2Medina raps online - but can’t find any
if anyone can point me in the right direction please do so.
inshallah I will buy some of the raps as well if they’re as good as this.
Ismael, can you publish the lyrics to this rap please, as some of it isn’t clear to understand, for example, Salma Yaqoob and Aisha Bewley are mentioned along with another sister whose name I can’t really distinguish.
Also you say “free david the historian” and then give another Imam’s name that I can’t understand (jamila lameen?), and there’s some other stuff as well.
Also, how come this rap is not available on Mecca2Medina’s web site?
Its Imam Jamil Al Amin from Atlanta. InshaAllah the MR Radio will get some Mecca2Medina tracks.
These Nasheed concerts are pathetic. Muslims needing entertainment to part with there money. The article is very good but the sister works for a channel that pushes these jahilic events, ironic!
On the issue of music, instruments, etc, if u ask a man u will always get contradicting answers. To many scholars for dollars, every one has an opinion, we have Islamic HipHop, Islamic Riba (banking), Islamic Pork, soon Islamic Lottery. If u are a muslim all the answers are in Al-Furqan, why are muslims afraid to engage with the Quran. I am not Qualified, I have no knowledge, typical answers. Read people, verify what the man says, if it contradicts Al-Furqan discard it.
Maybe these brothers and others who get paid should do a tune called MeGetPaidByGod. This one is a free tune, jazakallah. Of course u all have bills to pay, but what happen to fe-sabi-lillah, it is more Get Paid Lillah.
This whole nasheed and selling of music is a rip off to keep the muslims as CONsumers and as slaves to the man. To pay for Dawah and pay for charity, may Allah (swt) protect us from this shaitanic system.
“FieldMuslim” - so i guess paying to go to Islamic universities is bad too, we should get it for free. we shouldn’t even pay for islamic books, audio tapes, lectures, or anything at all. everything should be free.
do you know how much money was raised thru these concerts to go to Islamic relief? try doing that at lectures or at masajid. nothing compared to selling tickets wher 100% of all the profit go to the releif to all the suffering muslim brothers and sisters.
u need to wake up fieldmuslim and take a look around you. look at the muslim youth. look at what the MAJORITY of them are listening to (including myself). we all listen to haram non muslim music of all genres (hip hop, r&b, rock, reggae, etc.). alhamdulillah they are Muslims who have talent who are using their talent to bring the youth back to Islam, back to the deen with there music. i support it 100%. wallahi if it wasn’t for nasheeds, i would have been a much worse Muslim then i am today.
may Allah (swt) continue to bless all the nasheed artits. may Allah (swt) guide all the Muslims. ameen.
“FieldMuslim”
Nice Collection of Hip Hop music:
http://www.bandung2.co.uk/audio/various.htm
hahahahahaaha
ur comments have lost credibility, jk
Peace, Don’t twist what I have said, alhamdollilah I and many pay for many books, lectures, etc, anything that will benefit the nafs, even then many prices are OTT, again exploitive. Man the Deen is expensive. Education should be available to all, otherwsie u have a class system, again the Almighty Dollar is the Ilah.
Why did u need an event to raise money, read what i say. U need entertainment to part for your money. Give for an event not Allah (swt), very good for u, that is not Islam. U have misinterpreted what I have said about what should be free, that is a very reactive comment rather than proactive, that sums u up I am afraid, like NotABoyBand.
That link, at least it is free, I never said music is haram, I said u should not expolit it. Charge for this tune like u do for all your other products.
I am trying to keep some adab here but we differ vastily but then we use a different criterions. Keep up the events and the charging and do not lie about the events being not mixed, have attended them and will not again, they are jahil, have made the youth even more confused.
People need to change from the inwards and not invent these short cut events to save there souls.
Peace to you, if I said anything wrong or hurtful, I apologise, I am not trying to add to the fitna but make some points that I think are being missed, maybe my language is not clear or good. Peace.
so basically you don’t support islamic events?
Yvonee Ridley’s response:
http://www.muslimsweekly.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2064&Itemid=238
I’m so glad to see that she has written a response.
“To many scholars for dollars, every one has an opinion, we have Islamic HipHop, Islamic Riba (banking), Islamic Pork, soon Islamic Lottery.”
No you’re wrong, we follow the consensus of muslims scholars, and they all agree that riba/pork/lottery is haraam. On the issue of music, there isn’t a consensus.
By the way, the quran doesn’t directly mention music/singing.
There’s no need to make denigrating comments about those that make nasheeds or attend nasheed events (”jahil”). The sunnah is to be moderate.
Extremism = my way is correct and my way only
there is a legitimate difference of opinion in terms of music, and you should respect your fellow brothers and sisters that take a different legit ruling than the one you take.
there’s more to say but i gotta go.
one last thing, there’s nothing wrong with earning money. i wonder whatever job you do (whether it be a lawyer or a cleaner) that u will refuse any wages fi-sabilillah
As a member of Mecca2Medina I must let you know that we are big fans of sister Yvonne Ridley. Her show the Agenda is one of the best shows on the Islam Channel (without a doubt) I have also had the pleaseure of being invited on her show when she had the tribute to Malcolm X IN FEBUARY 2005 with Dawood Gustave (from Love Music Hate Racism)and Prof. Dan Jumma.
I truly feel that Sister Yvonne has more bravery than many of our male brothers because when it comes to informing the Ummah about what is happening in Iraq, Afghanistan or anything concerning Muslims she talks without fear. We have met her quite a few times and we always learn something new. We recognise and respect that she is truly blessed.
Many things written in the article are/were true without doubt but we felt that the ‘boyband’ slur was an insult, she has met us many times before. We were in the middle of recording a new hip hop album/mixtape called ‘Truthseekers’ and we wasn’t going to answer back but I thought I never come to Islam to be a punching bag of Insults. We tried our best to answer her back with an element of respect and everything we said behind her back we said on the track (so we could not be accused of backbiting) According to the Sheikhs,Imams and Scholars we have met THEY HAVE TOLD US THAT MUSIC IS HALAL ONCE IT’S USED TO ENJOIN THE GOOD AND FORBID THE EVIL. We respect the opinion of people who say music is haram and we sometime organise shows without music with just vocals only….
So when we recorded the track, we thought that would be the best way to get our points across because we are a rap group at the end of the day. We were invited to come on the Islam Channel and the CEO ALSO ADVISED US in Islam we have the right to defend ourselves.
We have spoken via texts to sister Yvonne and we are still fans of her hard work in bringing the truth to the Ummah. For the record I must let you know that we have made up with the sister and she is our sister in faith and deen. May Allah continue to bless and protect her……
Please pray for Allah to forgive and bless all of us as we are living in hard times.
We should be on her wonderful Agenda Show on the 16th of June Insh’lla I will print up the lyrics soon. (when I get the time)
Ismael of Mecca2Medina
http://www.myspace.com/mecca2medina http://www.mecca2medina.com
David The Historian has recently been sent to jail for claiming that less than 6 million Jews never died in World war 2, Imam Jamil Al Ameen who was formerly Rap H brown (of the Black Panthers) has been fitted up in prison for a crime he did not commit. I was praising The pilgrims/Poetic Pilgrimage (who performed recently with Habib Ali Jufri)The Pearls Of Islam and missundastood who are all sister poets. I was also praising sisters Salma Yaqoob, Adeela Shabbazz and Ayesha Bewley for representing women In Islam PROPERLY. I sdhould send the write up soon. Thanks for all the comments. mysalam
I like that you mention all these people, because I for one didn’t know about some of them before, and have now researched them on the net.
Jazakallah Ismael and inshallah I will remember you in my duas.
“No you’re wrong, we follow the consensus of muslims scholars, and they all agree that riba/pork/lottery is haraam. On the issue of music, there isn’t a consensus.”
I am sorry most ’scholars’ have said Islamic Banking is halal but alhamdollilah a few now have gone back to the criterion and this fallacy will be exposed just like music. ‘Scholars’ are not the criterion the Quran is.
Music is not in the Quran but the arabic language is so rich and powerful that words like lawh and laib (loosly tranlated as play and distraction) are in there and Music generally falls under this. Anyone who thinks it is not a distraction has really been fooled.
wat are u talking about bro? Islam has a great banking system and it fits into the modern western standards too. there are many Islamic approved by scholars such as Mufti Taqi Usmani who is one of the top in the world, and they are some that are approved and supervised by Al-Azhar. HSBC bank has a special Islamic loan. There are others to such as Amana Mutual funds, etc. They strictly adhere to Islam. If you don’t beleive it, then go see for youserlf. go and ask the Islamic banks how they function. They function like how they did throught the history of Islam.
I dont understand why Muslims downgrade Islam’s economic standards. It’s so beautiful, and Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was a genious. Most people who complain about these Islamic banks, haven’t even picked up 1 book on islamic banking or haven’t even checked the bank to see how they function.
Education is lacking amongst Muslims.
Peace Be Unto Those Who Follow Right Guidance.
Mujahideen Ryder states that:
“wat are u talking about bro? Islam has a great banking system and it fits into the modern western standards too.”
Since when is Al-Islam supposed to “fit into” kufr? Integration/assimilation - including that of ‘economics’ - has no place in Deen. (Please reflect on Surah Al-Kaafiroon and bear in mind that Islam is NOT a mere religion, but a Deen.)
Unfortunately, too many Muslims - and ‘Muslims’ - are confused about the issue of ‘Iqtisad (economics) and the nature of the relation of banking - Islamic or otherwise - to Riba. In order to alleviate such ignorance, I refer interested parties to the following on-line sources:
“The Judgement on Riba” by Umar Ibrahim Vadillo
http://www.shaykhabdalqadir.com/content/articles/Art037_12032005.html
“Paper Money: A Legal Judgement” by Umar Ibrahim Vadillo
http://www.shaykhabdalqadir.com/content/articles/Art029_04112004.html
“Is Islamic banking Islamic?” by Tarek Al Diwany
http://www.globalwebpost.com/farooqm/study_res/i_econ_fin/diwany_ibanking.htm
“Islamic Banking Isn’t Islamic” by Tarek Al Diwany
http://www.islamic-finance.com/item100_f.htm
Peace
thank you for the links. here is a book:
Islamic Finance
Mufti Taqi Usman, Darul Uloom
http://www.darululoomkhi.edu.pk/fiqh/islamicfinance/islamicfinance.html
Mufti Taqi Usmani is aslo a member of the following Islamic finanicial organizations in the world:
Again, brother, Islam is not backward, and it is not just a religion. Islam has a banking system which can be applied to today and not just in the past.
Salaamun aleikum.
I am not impressed by the “Lizard-hole” emulation of the kuffaar by post-’Abduh modernists (regardless if they wish to masquerade as traditionalists/conservatives etc) who wish to rubber-stamp as “sharia’-compliant” (sic) institutions such as “Islamic banking”. there is nothing ‘backward’ about rejecting banking [=RIBA-nomics]. Historically, the ummah enjoyed global economic supremacy WITHOUT banking and could do so again. It is a shame that so many Muslims - and ‘Muslims’ - are suffering from a failure of nerve and incapable of thinking outside ‘the box’ of kufr. Indeed, ad-duna sijn-ul mu’min.
However, in the spirit of reciprocity, allow me to recommend the following text:
“Riba: The Moral Economy of Usury, Interest and Profit” by Ziaul Haque
http://onlineislamicstore.com/b6870.html
Fi amaan illah
FieldMuslim, you said: ‘Scholars’ are not the criterion the Quran is.
Be careful though, it is a fitnah for you to derive fiqh yourself from the Quran unless you are fully qualified to do so.
If you doubt this issue, research it from any Sunni non-Salafi non-Wahhabbi sources.
As Shaykh Abdul Hakim Murad said:
“With every Muslim now a proud mujtahid, and with taqlid dismissed as a sin rather than a humble and necessary virtue, the divergent views which caused such pain in our early history will surely break surface again. Instead of four madhhabs in harmony, we will have a billion madhhabs in bitter and self-righteous conflict. No more brilliant scheme for the destruction of Islam could ever have been devised.”
In his article: http://www.masud.co.uk/ISLAM/ahm/newmadhh.htm
are u saying that the Prophet (saas) did not have any type of economic, banking or finanicial system. the 4 caliphs didnt set up any type of institution to help finance?
i would never want Muslims like you to run a country. it would collapse in a day. im not talkin about riba. riba is straight up haram.
there is islamic banking without riba. subhanAllah. you really need to read the history of Islam, in Andalusia, in India, in Iraq and North Africa.
Thank you “Asterik”
“i would never want Muslims like you to run a country. it would collapse in a day. im not talkin about riba. riba is straight up haram.”
Alhamdollilah keep the pharoh in power, all I am interestd in is replacing the current pharonic system of White Supremacy with one of Jutsice, i.e. Al-Islam. u cannot run a country when your currency is in the global riba system. It takes time to understand this, u need to de-colonize your mind. Banking=Riba. U can have a riba-free system without these jahil banks. The messenger did not have banks or hiphop.
“Be careful though, it is a fitnah for you to derive fiqh yourself from the Quran unless you are fully qualified to do so.”
I never could do this, it takes years of study of the arabic language and rulings, all i said was the quran is the ultimate Criterion, AL-Furqan. We follow scholars blindly like we do them down lizard holes, are we always in denial of this? We must always justify ourselves and think we are some chosen people like Bani-israel, and look what happend to them.
Peace
“The messenger did not have banks or hiphop.”
The messenger (saas) didn’t have a written copy of the Qura’n. The messenger (saas) didn’t have a car. The messenger (saas) didnt have lines in the masjid.
With your type of attitude, you need to go live in the dessert.
And by the way you need to learn about the “bait-ul-maal” banking system of Islam.
Again, please read that book, that I posted before. I don’t know what scholar you listen to, maybe you don’t at all. If you don’t, then this discussion is useless.
FiledMuslim - You have no idea what you’re talking about, have some adab towards the people of ‘ilm, you know not a grain of sand in comparison to what they do, so keep quiet.
We’ve seen enough of your type that curse at the shuyook because they are unable to see that one matter can have more than one ruling on it.
” Fas-aloo Ahl al dhikri in kuntum laa ta’lamoon (Ask Ahl al-Dhikr if you do not know).†(Holy Qur’an, 16:43
Our ahl al dhikr are the ulama, who are yours? or do you feel like you can derive rulings from the quraan yourself?
Afterall you seem to dismiss rulings and say that the only criterion is the quran, what do you think the ulama base their rulings on?
MR> This is why i have comments in moderation mode. to filter out idiots.
are you in the field or the house muslim man. That this the question. In truth this is so childish the forum that is. Its like a bunch of a..hole
I think sister ridley was right to diss you uncle toms. no time for fake ones..
you ain’t real… as ultra magnetic said
Big up sami yusef and the nasheeds crew for helping the children
In truth ilm wear is deeper that your music and so is the audio on the bandung2 website. Learn your lesson cheaper by the dozen 2, you are no spoken person for the majority of brothers and sisters or me .
last real niggah alive.
Peace Be Unto Those Who Follow Right Guidance.
Bayt-ul-maal = ‘banking system of Islam’ (sic)?
No. “Bayt-ul-maal” = treasury.
To assert an equivalence between a treasury and a bank is to obfuscate the Riba issue.
Peace
[...] Sami Yusuf responds to Yvonne Ridley By mujahideenryder Finally! Mecca2Medina responded and now Sami has. [...]
oh no you didn’t “he might be enjoying this?” astaghfirullah… how can you question someone’s intention like that? it’s not a light thing to imply something like that
Open Letter
From Sami Yusuf to Yvonne Ridley
17/06/06
Dear Yvonne,
Peace and blessings of God be upon you.
Your recent article on ‘Pop Culture in the Name of Islam’ has been brought to my attention. I commend you for voicing your opinion and raising some very important issues – albeit in a very provocative manner. I thought it would be useful to share some of my thoughts with you on this matter.
As a Muslim artist, I regularly seek clarification and advice from world-renowned scholars on art, music, singing and culture. Be informed that the subject of music is one of the most controversial topics in Islamic Jurisprudence. I respect those who consider music to be haram. Yes eminent scholars of our past have opined such. However, I respect and follow the opinion of other eminent scholars – classical and contemporary, who permit singing and the use of musical instruments. The well-established jurisprudential rule states that ‘in matters where there is ikhtilaf (differences of opinion) there is to be no condemnation of either opinion.’ This is from the beauty of the religion of Islam. The diversity of our cultural, legal and social traditions is something we are in dire need of celebrating not condemning. So let’s agree to disagree on this one.
The obsessive fascination of fans towards any celebrity - be it in arts, music, politics, media, etc - to the point of hysteria and hero-worshipping is definitely unhealthy not to mention un-Islamic. Of course, as Muslims, we are required to abide by certain etiquettes in whatever situation we may find ourselves in. However, I definitely did not see girls dancing or behaving indecently in any of my concerts. To state otherwise is a gross exaggeration if not an outright fallacy. And if indeed that did take place then let’s deal with it in the true Prophetic tradition - a tradition that imparts love, mercy, tolerance and wisdom. Let me share with you the story of the Bedouin who came to the Prophet’s mosque and started urinating in the mosque itself. The Companions rushed to grab him and give him a ‘good beating.’ But the Prophet did not allow them to do so and told them to let him be. After the Bedouin had urinated, the Prophet asked his Companions to bring a bucket of water and wash the place. Afterwards he called the man and with gentleness and affection explained to him that this was a place of worship and that it should be kept clean. Though I have to say that had the Bedouin been around today he would be lucky to get away with just a ‘good beating’!
Indeed the state of contemporary mainstream music is one dominated by celebrity worship, materialism and the constant promotion of a consumerist culture that seeks only to derive instant emotional and physical gratification. The arts industry in general – and the music industry specifically – is being commercialised at the expense of art itself. We don’t value good art or good music anymore – it’s about what can sell most in the market. In the midst of all this, it is upon all conscious and responsible artists who look beyond the commercial to work in refining arts and music. Apart from entertaining audiences, music is a powerful medium to communicate values and social messages. In these times where heinous crimes against humanity are being committed, we as artists – Muslims or non-Muslims, British or non-British – have a duty to use this medium to bring some sanity to this world of unrest, fear, violence, terror and war. Human life and dignity are values that should be cherished and championed by all. Had you listened carefully to the songs in my latest album which is actually entitled ‘My Ummah’ before hastily passing judgements, you would have noticed my modest attempt at addressing issues facing the global Muslim community – such as regaining our lost legacy in all spheres of human life, oppression in different parts of the Muslim world, Aids, landmines, poverty and freedom to wear the hijab.
This leads me to another important issue which you raised – that of identity and culture. Who are we? How do we define ourselves? What do we stand for? Let me remind you again – I am a British Muslim. Proud to be Muslim and proud to be British! Why? Because this is what Islam teaches me to be – loyal towards my faith and my country. Throughout our rich history, wherever Muslims settled they adopted and fused the best aspects of the local culture/society with Islamic teachings and traditions. As Dr. Umar Faruq Abdallah, a leading American Muslim scholar and thinker writes in ‘Islam the Cultural Imperative’:
…In history, Islam showed itself to be culturally friendly and, in that regard, has been likened to a crystal clear river. Its waters (Islam) are pure, sweet, and life-giving but—having no color of their own—reflect the bedrock (indigenous culture) over which they flow. In China, Islam looked Chinese; in Mali, it looked African. Sustained cultural relevance to distinct peoples, diverse places, and different times underlay Islam’s long success as a global civilization…
At a time when leading Muslim scholars and thinkers have reached an advanced stage in crystallising theories of citizenship and positive integration into Western societies, any discussion of renouncing parts of our identity is simply ridiculous, dangerous and destructive – especially for someone who has no other homeland. Such emotional fist-pumping and chest-pounding about renouncing our British identity may seem attractive to a minority of Muslim youth, but as Muslims in positions of influence like yourself, we should not play to these base instincts. Rather, we should try to be more far-sighted and responsible in our discourse and not sacrifice this in the pursuit of tabloid-style sensationalist journalism.
http://www.samiyusuf.com/press/Sami_Yusuf_open_letter.htm
I already posted it on my blog.
Quoting UK-Bruv: The crowd did act in a very disgusting way when Sami was performing, (gives the expression la haya fi deen a whole new meaning) and as noone told them to behave otherwise its an implicit approval.
To support your quote:
The Prophet (s) said, “Idaa lam tastahi fasna’ maa shi’t” “If you have no Hayah then do what you wish.” 40 hadith Nawawi.
[...] Azhar Usman responds to Yvonne Ridley By mujahideenryder This was before Sami Yusuf responded to her, but Azhar Usman (Muslim Comedian from the Allah Made me Funny Tour) wrote a letter about a month ago to Yvonne regarding her little rant. Mecca2Medina also responded to her a while back. Azhar Usman writes: [...]
Bismillah.
Im somewhat against what the sister said. Rapping, as long as it is within islamic context, staying away from what is prohibited, is just a way to attract muslims to enjoy halal music, instead of listning to other rap “eminem, etc” why not listem to M2M???
but the other point is, many companions of the prophet “pbuh” stayed away from some halal just to have like a “safety margine” between halal and haram. Give your self some practice, try to stay away from some halal to get your self and your soul in check and under control.
May alla help us all and keep this ummah united, always and forever.
mujahideen ryder… jazaka alla for such a great website, may alla make it with your good deeds
salam
i think sis. yvonne was concontrating on the actions of the sistrs in the concert and blaming sami for it. people are responsible for their own actions
nusaiabah
and those who aid them, shade them, assist them, encourage them and promote such actino is equally accountable and responsible!!!
and allah is all knower all wise
the judge of judges
Salma - and you’re implying what exactly? because you’ll be glad to know that Br. Sami doesnt actually support, encourage nor promote the sisters behaviour.
Al hamdulilah Allah is the Greatest………Mecca2Medina and Yvonne Ridley will be comming together to speak out against Islamophobia At westminster uni
(across the road from bAKER sT. sTATION)
Love Music Hate Islamophobia
Full Details - Be the first to write a review
When: Friday, November 10th, 2006
Location: Inter:mission (Westminster University Students’ Union) Marylebone Road London W1
Muslims in Britain are at the sharp end of racism right now. Since 11 September 2001 Islamophobia has become the most visible – and “respectable†– form of racism in the Western world. The fascist BNP declared May’s local elections to be “a referendum on Islam”. As anti-racists in the UK have done many times in response to anti-Semitism or racism against British black and Asian people, we must reject the racist myths about Islam and stand shoulder-to-shoulder Muslim and non-Muslim to defeat racism and Islamophobia. We are proud to announce the first Love Music Hate Islamophobia event, Muslim and non-Muslim musicians performing together, as well as a debate on the issue of Islamophobia and how we can fight it. Performers and panellists include Mecca 2 Medina, UK Apache and Sadiq Khan MP. Also confirmed is sister Yvonne Ridley
ben türkiyeliyim ingilizce bilmiyorum ama istanbula gelmeni bekliyoruz çok konuşulan bi site b hayırlı günler
listening to islamic rap is not any better than listening to eminem…as a brother mentioned earlier, you cant tell what the words are either way which means you are listening to it strictly to enjoy the music, which is still haram even if the words are praising Allah(swt). I would only suggest doing this if you are trying to ween yourself off of non-Muslim rappers so that at least you dont have the profanity (which some Muslim rappers put profanity in their songs also).
Another point is, although sisters are accountable for their own actions, the fact that sami yusuf and others have created this setting for them to act that way means that they will be accountable for these women’s actions.
wallahu a3lam
as salam aleikum
my name is ruksarr I am ten I always watch you on tv u are so cool I have to sisters there names are lubna and javeriha.
Anasheed/ Music Halal or Haram by Sheikh Faisal Al-Jaasim (translated by Abu Usamah At-Thahabi: http://calltoislam.com/audio/Anasheed%20Music%20Halal%20Or%20Haram%20(24-12-06)%20-%20Shaykh%20Faisal%20Al%20Jaasim.mp3
Anasheed/ Music Halal or Haram by Sheikh Faisal Al-Jaasim (translated by Abu Usamah At-Thahabi: http://calltoislam.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=647&Itemid=26
Saudi Arabia and Libya were the source of about 60 percent of the foreign fighters
who came to Iraq in the past year to facilitate attacks.
i heard dat ur alowed to listen to music if it brings u closer to allah(swt) and the prophet peace be upon him
why can’t mecca2medina and all other muslim boy bands(artists) take constructive criticism? instead of being proud and haughty accept that there is a fault in their way and take something positive from what sister yvonne is saying.
maybe we should turn off our computers and tv’s maybe even walk around with our eyes closed, switch off cellphones, prohibited (in Islam) things are all round us. There’s good and bad in all things, lets make it good
to benefit mankind in some good way. Move along with the times, with the Deen as our guide.
Yvonne Ridley is a good sister and M2M are a group of good brothers, They appeared on her show and they got love for each other so lets not try n disunite the Ummah…
Music is Haram its very clear in the sahih Hadiths but i respect the view of any brothers and sisters who say its Halal
Can you please show me brother where you found out that computers, tv’s and cell fones are haram? As Muslims when we say something is prohibited we have to bring proof from the Qur’an or Sahih hadith
These are one brave HUMANS!! Sis Yvonne, PLEASE I BEG YOU!! If you LOOOOOOve criticsing, go and criticies israel..america, Bush, That rice and others who r LITERALLY takkin lives of MUSLIMS.
oh well ya i forgot, your aim is bringing people to the “RIGHT PATH”… you dont care..i mean about the gaza issue and all that..you said cry for them..not work right?? mmm i am getting to a result…
anyway!! chill out Thanks fo postin yo
peace be on us all
brother Iman PLEASE I BEG YOU!!
get it straight, our sister Yvonne has critisized israel..america, Bush, That rice and others who r LITERALLY takkin lives of MUSLIMS many times on live television… matter of fact her show got banned because so many Jews complained…
so how dare you point the finger at our pious sister who has done alot for the Ummah, also check out the lecture she did bout the Taliban.. you can download it from here http://www.path-to-jannah.com/2008/03/blog-post_15.html
also Im not sure if you know Mecca 2 Medina brothers have been on her show even after releasing that song and they got nuff love for the sister
she simply stated the obvious fact and modernised part time muslims are attacking our sister for that… Allah knows best
whoever said that has got no evidence from Qur’an or Sunnah, if someone makes such a claim we should always ask them for the evidence and Allah knows best
What Problems Are Banks Facing In Online Banking?…
I couldn’t understand some parts of this article, but I guess I just need to check some more resources regarding this, because it sounds interesting….
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